Millennium Moments
IN today's global, jet-setting world, a visit by a U.S. president just doesn't cause the same excitement it once did. FDR first president
to visit the islandsThe first president to come here while in office was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who arrived in Honolulu on July 26, 1934, says Robert C. Schmitt in "Firsts and Almost Firsts in Hawaii."
Roosevelt came aboard the cruiser Houston for a two-day stay, which included a speech from the lanai of Iolani Palace.
Some 34 years earlier, however, William H. Taft in April 1900 was the first future president to visit here before ascending to the office, Schmitt says.
Taft, then the new governor of the Philippines, spent four days on Oahu with his family before sailing on to assume that post.
Taft made a return trip in 1905 when, as secretary of war, he visited here with Theodore Roosevelt's daughter, Alice.
Zipper lane work slows traffic on 3 routes
Traffic along a portion of the H-1 Freeway was snarled last night because of construction to the Zipper lane.The state is resurfacing the entire length of the Ewa-bound Zipper lane, meaning there will be one fewer lane for traffic until Dec. 30.
Police said they received many complaints about the situation, which also caused traffic slowdowns Ewa-bound on Moanalua Freeway and Kamehameha Highway as motorists took other routes.
Stabbed football player heading back to Oregon
An Oregon State football player who was stabbed in the back in Waikiki early Sunday morning should be back in Corvallis by tomorrow.Charles O'Neal, a 6-foot-2, 288-pound defensive lineman, was released from Queen's Hospital at 5 p.m. yesterday, hospital officials said.
O'Neal, 21, was stabbed in the lower back after leaving a Jack in the Box restaurant on Kuhio Avenue with teammate Paul Luoma.
Police said O'Neal was stabbed with a 4-inch knife that was stuck in his back when police arrived at the scene.
Luoma, 26, was treated for a cut at Queen's Hospital and released shortly after the incident.
Meanwhile, police are searching for two men suspected in the attack, which occurred after the players left a strip club the morning after Oregon State lost to Hawaii in the Oahu Bowl.
Keep the extra blanket ready, it will be cool
Believe it or not things are warming up at night, but a cold spell across the state is expected to continue at least through tomorrow.In Honolulu the temperature was 65 degrees overnight, but a cooler 60 degrees yesterday. Kaneohe clocked in at 69 degrees overnight and 62 yesterday.
Lihue matched its record low temperature yesterday at 58 degrees but it was 64 degrees this morning.
"It wasn't an all out blast of cold air that set all kinds of records," said Tim Craig, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service.
"It was a nice pleasant change from the humid south easterly winds we had last week."
We can thank a low-pressure system northeast of the islands for the cooler, dry air, Craig said.
The low-pressure system will probably continue until tomorrow then drift north of the islands.
The north winds will drop off and the weather should be dry and cool for the rest of the year, he predicted.
"I think the winds will be light and variable on New Year's Eve and it should be dry under clear skies."
Waikiki-Diamond Head area reopens for fishing
Waters off Waikiki Beach between the natatorium and Diamond Head Lighthouse will reopen for fishing for one year beginning midnight Jan. 1.The state allows fishing in these waters -- called the Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area -- only during even-numbered calendar years only.
However, gill netting is not allowed, nor is any type of net or trap, except throw nets. It is also illegal to use a spear from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Students can register for ACT Assessment
College-bound high school students here can register to take the ACT Assessment on Feb. 12.The ACT scores are accepted or preferred by more four-year colleges and universities than any other college entrance and placement exam, according to the ACT.
The test fee is $22, and registrations must be postmarked by Jan. 7.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Waipio man is arrested in sale of fireworks
Police yesterday seized hundreds of pounds of fireworks from a Waipio home and arrested a man for selling fireworks without a license.Randall Pasion, 54, was arrested after selling about $680 worth of fireworks to an undercover officer at 1:40 p.m. at 94-1065 Puana St., police said.
The Pearl City Crime Reduction Unit searched the residence and seized about 500 pounds of fireworks valued at $5,300, said Sgt. Clayton Chung.
While the strings of fireworks allegedly sold to the undercover officer were legal, there were more than a dozen types of illegal aerial fireworks among the seized items, he said. "Basically, he had a large amount of explosives at the residence," Chung said, adding that it would "be a nightmare if it all went off."
Pasion's bail was set at $50 on the one count of illegal selling, a petty misdemeanor.
Man gets 34 months for distributing drugs
A man indicted in August for distributing illegal drugs within 1,000 feet of public schools, parks or housing projects was sentenced to 34 months confinement and six years of supervised release with the condition to stay away from the "Weed and Seed" areas.U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway also fined Billy Maae $3,000 yesterday.
The government's Weed and Seed Program works to eliminate violent crime, gangs and drugs from dangerous neighborhoods.
Honeymooner hunted in fight with his bride
A man who was honeymooning in Waikiki is now being sought for alleged domestic abuse, police said.Yesterday at 2:50 a.m., police were called to a room at The Imperial of Waikiki hotel at 205 Lewers St. for a domestic abuse case. Officers issued a 24-hour cooling-off period to the couple.
The newlywed couple later met at the beach and went to their room. At 9 p.m., they got into another argument and the husband allegedly hit and choked his wife. She ran out to the elevators, but was dragged back to the room where she was assaulted again, police said.
The husband ran away before hotel security and police arrived.
Child taken from party; mother is arrested
KAILUA-KONA - Police are holding Lenia Lewis, 26, of Kailua-Kona, on a charge of custodial interference for taking her little girl without permission from a Christmas party at the Old Kona Airport State Park Saturday.The girl was reported missing at 2:16 p.m. Saturday. She was found with Lewis at 4:52 p.m. in another part of the park. The child was not harmed.
Police found Thomas Ray Estabrook, 39, of Kona, with Lewis. They determined he was not involved with taking the girl, but he was charged on an unrelated warrant.
Lewis was charged yesterday and remained in custody in lieu of $2,200 bail.
Police hunt suspect in attempt at arson
Police are searching for a suspected arsonist who placed several rags soaked with a flammable liquid inside the HSI Electrical building.Sometime between Christmas Eve and yesterday morning, a suspect broke into the warehouse at 2234 Hoonee Place and put the rags throughout the warehouse, police said.
The arsonist used a rope to connect the rags, and lit one end. However, the rope was not flammable and the fire did not spread, police said.
About $100 damage was reported inside a metal staircase.
